The Wedding
Gecko’s most ambitious show to date visits HOME for a limited run
Award-winning physical theatre company Gecko’s new show The Wedding focuses on personal and political marriage. With a performing company of nine, this is Gecko’s most ambitious show to date and visits Manchester’s HOME for a limited run (12-16 September).
www.geckotheatre.com / @GeckoTheatre / Facebook.com/GeckoTheatre1
Gecko is an award-winning and internationally-acclaimed physical theatre company, led by Artistic Director Amit Lahav. Established in 2001, Gecko has developed 6 full-length shows, numerous youth projects and workshops and celebrated its 15th anniversary last year.
We are all married, bound by a contract.
But what are the terms of this relationship? And can we consider a divorce?
Gecko’s seventh creation, The Wedding, is inspired by the complexities of human nature: the struggle between love and anger, creation and destruction, community and isolation.
The extraordinary ensemble of nine international performers guides audiences through a blur of wedding dresses and contractual obligations, a dystopian world in which we are all brides, wedded to society.
Combining movement, imagery and provocative narratives in Gecko’s trademark style, The Wedding brings these contracts into question with an emotionally charged and spectacular performance.
We all want to believe in our journey, but where are we heading? Is it too late to stop, to go back, to fall in love, to start again?
Amit Lahav, Gecko’s Artistic Director, has devised a rigorous and productive process of developing a show over a period of two years, including an initial phase of development followed by a Creation Tour in which the show changes and progresses dramatically. The Wedding’s first work in progress was shared in June 2016 at Pulse Festival in Ipswich and the show’s Creation Tour took place in spring 2017 (Northern Stage in Newcastle, New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry).
“Walked in to watch a play. Left feeling ready to change the world.” Audience response at New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich
“So glad people are making such raw, powerful theatre.” Audience response on Twitter
Autumn tour dates include: HOME in Manchester (12-16 September), Exeter Northcott 21–23 September), Lighthouse in Poole (3 October) and Hall for Cornwall in Truro (6-7 October).
Supported by Arts Council England and Ipswich Borough Council. The Wedding is a Gecko production co-commissioned by DanceEast and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich, Northern Stage, HOME Manchester and Beijing 707 N-Theatre Co. Ltd (Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China) in association with Lighthouse, Poole and Warwick Arts Centre, supported by The Point, Eastleigh.
Amit Lahav, Gecko’s Artistic Director said: “Our first experience with HOME was last year with Institute. I think we all felt that there was a chemistry with the HOME team and its place in the City; a shared vision regarding our style and approach to performance. So there was little surprise that the audience’s response was so warm and energised. We are delighted that HOME have supported us through the process of making The Wedding and look forward to developing our relationship with our Manchester friends.”
Walter Meierjohann, Artistic Director: Theatre, HOME, added: “We are thrilled to welcome back Gecko to HOME. This award-winning company is internationally renowned for their visual and ambitious work, putting audiences at the heart of the narrative. For The Wedding, Amit Lahav explores personal and political marriage – in typical Gecko-style: poetical, inspiring, moving and entertaining.”